In the Soweto Derby, form is irrelevant

Saturday, 3:30 p.m., at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, the Soweto Derby between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates will take place.

Amakhosi hopes to rebound from their sad MTN8 semi-final exit and defeat their local rivals, the Sea Robbers, for the fourth straight time.

Pirates are now riding a wave of enthusiasm after humiliating the mighty Mamelodi Sundowns in their MTN8 match, which was the Buccaneers’ second consecutive victory.

Arthur Zwane, the head coach of the Chiefs, is one of the few fortunate persons to have played in this blockbuster match for both the Chiefs and the Pirates.

The 49-year-old believes that his team’s form relative to that of their opponents will have little bearing on the outcome of the match.

“We anticipate a very difficult encounter since Pirates are currently brimming with confidence because they’ve been winning games in the MTN8,” he added. “However, when Chiefs and Pirates meet, previous form is irrelevant.”

“What counts most is what happens on game day in terms of who takes charge, dictates terms, and ultimately capitalizes on their goal scoring opportunities.”

In recent weeks, the Chiefs’ camp has been surrounded by questions over their team’s skill and attitude in high-stakes matches.

Keagan Dolly, the Chiefs’ stand-in captain, highlighted the mentality the team’s players have adopted in recent weeks as the season’s most important match approaches.

Dolly stated, “In terms of pressure, we at Chiefs have viewed it as a luxury.”

“It’s a huge honor to be a part of those great derbies; we’re one of the few teams that get to play in a sold-out FNB stadium, and that’s the kind of thing we live for at Chiefs.”

@ScribeSmiso